Tabulating board



May 17, 1938.

c. s. MEYER- TABULATING BOARD Filed Feb. 26, 193'? Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TABULATIN G BOARD v Charles S.-Meyer, Norwood, Ohio Application February 26, 1937, Serial No. 127,950

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a tabulation or computation board; upon which a multiplicity of record sheets or the like are assembled or compiled in an orderly or shingled relationship, to expose a column or margin of the edge sheet and the line spacing of each column in linear alignment and registration with the corresponding spacing of the other exposed columns for ready reference and computation purposes. 7

An object of the invention is to provide a table or board for assembling or compiling a multiplicity of record sheets to expose a column portion of each sheet side by sideand in a relatively squared position with an edge of the board, each sheet individually clipped to the board in a manner so that it is guided and definitely located in its application for convenience and speed of application, and is efliciently held 20 but permitted to be readily Withdrawn and substituted at will without disturbance to the other sheets. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a table or'board upon which a plurality of sheets can, be assembled in a shingled relationship for adjoiningly exposing the column or margin of each sheet, the table provided with adjustable clips. each for gripping a sheet at one edge for conveniently and rapidly assembling the 39 sheets upon the board, either in correspond ng or in varying degrees of width of columnar exposure.

Other objects and further advantages will be more fully apparent from a description of the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure l. is a top plan view of the tabulator or record sheet holder with record sheets applied. Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, of a portion of the tabulator with the record sheets omitted. I I

Figure 3 is a section online3-3, Figure 2. Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4, Figure 1. Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the rail guide clips for locating and offsetting the record sheets.

Figure 6 is aperspective view of a modified form of clip.

Referring to the drawing, I indicates aboard or panel providing a plane surfaced support for 50 an array of record sheets, assembled orcompiled one upon the other and marginally offset to unitarily expose a column or columns of each sheet. The board or panel, at its upper end longitudinally thereof, hasa ledge or guide rail 2 permanently fixed thereto, providing a sheet squaring shoulder or straight edge 3, above the plane of the board or panel, against which an edge of the record sheets 4 is abutted to appropriately square the same for relative alignment.

'The rail hingedly carries a clamping bar 5 adapted to swing to an open position upon the ledge or guide rail 2 and to a closed position upon the board to overlie and clamp a margin of the sheet in squared position with the guide I rail, to hold the same against displacement. 1 0 The clamp bar 5 is latched in its closed or sheet clamping position by latches 6-6, pivotally mounted upon the upper face of the guide rail 2, the latches swinging from a longitudinal position with the guide rail to a lateral position over the clamp bar for locking the bar in its closed position.

A'pair of parallel guide or slide rails 1-1, appropriately spaced, are recessed within the board or panel and each coextensive with the width of the panel. The rails are recessed to a degree to bring the same slightly below the plane of the upper or sheet supporting surface of the board. The rails preferably are in the form of a metal channel strip with oppositely inturned flanges 8 for the reception of a multiplicity of guide clips 9, slidable or adjustable within the rail and held against displacement by the inturned flanges of the channel rails,

necessitating end insertion into the rails, which 30.

are open at their opposite ends I or such purpose. Each clip represents a sheet metal stamping of Z form in cross section, comprising a base' portion 18 engaged and slidable within the channel rail, slightly curved or bowed longitudinally 36 for frictionally binding with the rail so as to be resistant to movement, and retain its adjusted position under a strain imposed thereon in assembling or compiling the sheets upon the board or panel. 40

A neck portion 1 1 extends laterally at an angle from the base portion, between and above the inturned flanges of the rail and carries a laterally extended tab 12 for clasping over a margin of a record sheet inserted therebeneath and in 4.5

edge contactwith the neck, the clip providing an adjustable stop for regulating the ofisetting of .the sheets and facilitating in their offsetting assembly upon the board.

As shown in Figure 4, the inturned flanges for gripping the sheet to resist displacement.

The clips are preferably adjusted to definite or measured locations along the rail and for this purpose the rail centrally longitudinally has a row of determinately or uniformly spacedindentures H3 in the upper side of its web portion for cooperation with a corresponding indenture Hi formed in the base portion of the clip for registering and socketing with an indenture in the rail to lock the clip in its set or adjusted position or location.

The series of clips can be set to any relative degree of spacing for appropriately compiling and assembling the record sheets, each for a given margin exposure, and the clips for one rail may be set in an aligned position with respective clips of a second rail, or in a staggered relation thereto to meet the offsetting requirements for the sheets and to serve for a considerable number of sheets.

The sheets can be compiled or assembled in a shingled relationship, either from the right or left of the board, depending upon the disposition of the clips, to extend their tabs either to the right or left. A portion of the space of the board can be used for exposing a right end column or margin of the sheets while an opposite or second portion can be used for a compilation, for exposing a left end column or margin of the sheets. The device is adjustable to every line of business and can be effectively and economically used in both large and small organizations. Various sizes and dissimilar sheets can be used for tabulating sales costs, production expenses, inventory control, and other analyses for the purposes of accounting, or otherwise.

In the example shown in Figure 1, the record sheets 4 are compiled to uniformly offset or expose a right end margin or column of the sheets with the left end of the sheets respectively, each inserted beneath the tab H of a pair of aligned 'clips, depending upon the length of the sheet and number of rows of clips with which the board is equipped. Two rows of clips usually are ample for a general size of board and average length size of sheet.

To insert or apply the sheets upon the board the clamp bar is unlocked and elevated from the board by swinging the same backwardly over and upon the ledge rail 2. The clips for the number required are adjusted or set to a selected position clips until its edge'contacts with the wall or stop.

formed by the upturned neck portion of the clip, and bringing the upper edge of the sheet in con tact with the squaring or straight edge of the guide bar or rail 2. Thereupon, a second sheet is applied upon the first and its application controlled by a second clip or set of clips, and so on for the number of sheets to be employed. Such compilation of the sheets exposes a definite width of column or margin of all the sheets, with the line spacing of each column in linear alignment and registration crosswise of the board. Should any sheet of the number be erroneously included, it can be readily withdrawn without disturbing the others and another sheet substituted, or a substitution can be made by transferring one of-the end sheets at either end of the group.

When it is desired to make a computation or tabulation from a plurality of record sheets in which the column bearing the data is located intermediate of the width of the sheet, the sheets are folded along, a columnar line for a marginal exposure of the column. As the general uses of a tabulator or computator board are'well known it is deemed that any extended elaboration thereof need not be made herein.

The adjustable clips offer a greater facility in compilation of the sheets and accommodate for various degrees of marginal or columnar exposure of each sheet over the present commercial types of devices generally referred to as peg boards. The peg board provides a row of definitely spaced pegs along a margin of the board, upon which the sheets are impaled through apertures in the sheets for compilation and oifsetting.

With the present improvement no special size sheets or perforated sheets are required. Each sheet can be withdrawn and another substituted without disturbance or interference to the other sheets, which is not possible with a peg board. The clamp holds the sheetflat, which is a material benefit when the sheets have been folded or wrinkled.

The modification shown in Figure 6 substitutes a longitudinal strip or plate I5, recessed within the top surface of the board, having a plurality of tabs 16 struck and bent out from the body thereof at determined spacings apart for the adjustable clips and channel rails previously described. The top surface of the plate is flush with the board or panel surface and the tabs are slightly inclined for convenient insertion of the sheet therebeneath, and this form is admirable for a user whose need is limited to one size or standard form of sheet.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A record sheet holder, comprising, a plane surfaced support or table board for compiling a multiplicity of sheets in shingled relationship for exposing a column space of each, the spacing at each exposed column in linear alignment and registration, the table board having one or a plurality of clip seating channels crosswise therein, and a plurality of clips seated within a channel of the board, the clips individually movable for relative spacing adjustment, each extending above the plane of the board to marginally clasp a sheet applied upon the board for locating and holding the sheets in a shingled relationship.

2. A record sheet holder, comprising, a plane surfaced support or table board for compiling a multiplicity of sheets in shingled relationship for exposing a column space of each, the spacing at each exposed column in linear alignment and registration, the table board having one or a plurality of clip seating channels crosswise therein, an edge rail across one end of the board for squaring the sheets upon the board, and a plurality of clips seated within a channel of the board, the clips individually movable in the channels for relative spacing adjustment, each extending above the plane of the board to marginally clasp a sheet applied upon the board for locating and holding the sheets in a shingled relationship.

3. A record sheet holder, comprising, a plane surfaced support or table board for compiling a multiplicity ofsheets in shingled relationship for exposing a column space of each, the spacing at each exposed column in linear alignment and registration, the table board having one or a plurality of clip seating channels crosswise therein, a plurality of clips seated within a channel of the board, the clips individually movable in the channel for relative spacing adjustment, each extending above the plane of the board to marginally clasp a sheet applied upon the board for locating and holding the sheets in a shingled relationship, and a clamp bar for clamping a margin of sheets upon the board.

4. A record sheet holder comprising, a table board for compiling and assembling thereon a plurality of sheets in a shingled relationship and having a shouldered straight edge longitudinally of one edge of the board, against which the sheets are squared, one or more guide rails recessed within the board parallel with said shouldered edge and of channel form, with inturned flanges for receiving and laterally confining a clip engaged therein, a plurality of clips, each having a portion slidably engaged within the rail and in frictional bearing therewith, and a tab portion for lapping a margin of a sheet upon the board for locating and holding said sheet.

5. A record sheet holder comprising, a table board for compiling and assembling thereon a plurality of sheets in a shingled relationship and having a shouldered straight edge longitudinally of one edge of the board, against which the sheets are squared, one or more guide rails recessed within the board parallel with said shouldered edge and of channel form, with inturned flanges for receiving and laterally eonfining a clip engaged therein, a plurality of clips, each having a portion slidably engaged within the rail and in frictional bearing therewith, and a tab portion for lapping a margin of a sheet upon the board for locating and holding said sheet, the web of the channel rails provided each with a longitudinal row of indentures, for interlocking cooperation with an indenture in the sec tion of the clips housed and slidable within the channel rail.

CHARLES S. MEYER. 

